Page 18 - QARANC Spring 2024

18 The Gazette QARANC Association
it”, and left? Something malignant could have been missed, because of that attitude.”
Steph adds: “Someone else who went to mental health service who wanted help for depression was told, ‘we’re not commissioned for trans services’ – and he replied, ‘I don’t want trans services I want mental health support.’
One incident years ago, when Steph was a student nurse, struck a chord then and seems even more poignant now. They were taking medication, and the Nurse mentor used a woman who was having a ‘sex change’ (gender affirmation surgery is now the preferred term) as a comedy foil “to embarrass student nurses”. She adds: “It shouldn’t matter if that patient has got a beard or whatever, that’s nothing to do with us. She’s there because of a serious attempt on her own life and our job is to support them to better health.”
Thankfully, there are positive examples where health services have achieved inclusive care. In her own case, her GP openly admitted they were unfamiliar with the specifics for transgender care and committed themselves to addressing the gaps in their knowledge, often by asking Steph herself for her opinion and guidance; enthusiastically engaging with the Gender Identity Clinic’s prescribing and clinical investigations.
Steph was nominated for a LGBTQ+ Defence Award in June, by her Commanding Officer. When this was announced on Forces News on Facebook, “most of the comments were disgusting” says Steph. However, the event itself was “glitzy, Central London” – at the Grand Hall of the Grand Connaught in Covent Garden – and a first outing for Steph’s new Mess Dress. “My thoughts were just to enjoy the evening but looking through the nomination, I thought I might have a good chance of winning because of combining NHS and reserves.”
When her name was called out as the winner of the first ever Armed Forces Leader of the Year Award, it was a proud moment for Steph and colleagues, although she admits, “I don’t do pride in myself very well – it was just nice to have confirmed that I’m doing the right thing and making it easier for others hopefully. I expect the army will want to build on my win, because that’s what they do!”
Steph has started a Healthcare Governance role at Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, meaning she is a full-time Army Reservist now. Her plan is to see out the role until retirement in three years. What does the Army mean to her? “Camaraderie, that sense of purpose and sense of belonging, a sense of doing something really good and useful. But if you think about the Army values, they are spot on – it’s having people to the left and right of you who you know are the same sort of people you are, and that’s important. The Army has allowed me to see the world – it’s taken me to Kuwait, Iraq, California, Gibraltar, and a few miserably wet places in Britain too!”
The mission of the Awards is to empower role models and through them to enable LGBTQ+ individuals to feel able to completely be themselves among their colleagues. “People who feel they can embrace their employer’s culture and values, and be accepted for who they are, are more likely to thrive in the workplace,” say organisers. Some 70%
I hope my thoughts
are useful, as well as inspirational, to others
– be that experienced, or new,
on the transition pathway
of LGBTQ+ professionals say they have no LGBTQ+ role models to look up to at work, so there is still work to be done.
Steph sums up: “I hope to actively challenge unconscious (and not so unconscious) biases, and improve knowledge and awareness of our community, who are still marginalised, often misunderstood, and sometimes disrespected – actually, this is putting it mildly...being themselves can be fatal for some.
“I recently represented the Trust at a 1 UK Division symposium focused on health and wellbeing, and once piece of feedback that stuck with me was ‘A trans woman presents to a senior military audience, and the only thing that matters is the quality of her information. That wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago, even 5 years ago.’ Within the Army and in the NHS, we all have our roles to play – but being transgender is not about acting ‘parts,’ it’s simply being a different aspect of oneself.
“Through my own lived experience, and both of my careers, I can weave together facts and figures regarding the social, health, and mental health impacts on the transgender community; provide a ‘back pocket’ explanation for all on what transgender is and isn’t, and its historical and global context; and an exploration of how best to provide a compassionate health service to transgender individuals.
“I have found overwhelming support and encouragement, both in the Army and the NHS, and it’s a space that I truly feel safe to be myself. I hope my thoughts are useful, as well as inspirational, to others – be that experienced, or new, on the transition pathway.”
For more information see fightingwithpride.org.uk